Departmental Secretary

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31335, 4 April 1967, Page 1

Departmental Secretary

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Apr. 3.

Mr P. J. O’Dea has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs by the State Services Commission, it was announced today. Formerly deputy secretary of the department, Mr O’Dea succeeds Mr J. V. Meech, who retired last week. Mr O’Dea joined the Public Service in 1936 as a cadet with the Department of Agriculture, transferring to the Department of Industries and Commerce in 1947, and the

Department of Internal Affairs in 1949. Before his appointment as deputy Secretary of Internal Affairs in 1964, Mr O’Dea was group executive officer responsible for the local government and allied branches of the department. He was also secretary of a number of special investigating committees and the Royal Commission on Local Author ity Fjnance. Mr O’Dea was administration officer for the 1953-54, 1956 and 1958 Royal tours and assistant director of the 1963 Royal Thai visit and Royal visits in 1963 and 1966. During 1966 he was assistant director for the visit of President Johnson. Mr O’Dea is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration—being on Its national executive for 10 years—and was president in 1962. He holds a diploma of public administration and is a qualified accountant.